I was physically and psychologically tortured, Saab narrates bitter experience in Cape Verde’s detention
describes his arrest as illegal, arbitrary
The Venezuelan diplomat, Alex Saab, that was arrested and detained by Cape Verde government has narrated how he was physically and psychologically tortured and denied specialist medical care at the Cape Verde’s detention.
The Venezuelan Diplomat in a recent interview with CNN also described his continued detention and planned extradition to the United States by Cape Verde authorities as illegal and arbitrary.
Saab while stressing that his “arrest and detention are completely arbitrary, illegal, he also narrated, “there’s no doubt about it. I have been physically and psychologically tortured and denied specialist medical care .”
The embattled Venezuelan diplomat lamented that if his extradition to the United State happens, he would be exposed to forced interrogation techniques, unfair trial, inhuman detention conditions and cruel punishments.
Saab, in the interview condemned the United States for the pressure it has applied on the Cape Verde authorities and the illegal economic and political sanctions which it has thrust upon Venezuela.
Saab noted that it is more disappointing that Cape Verde always brag about the independence of its judicial, but was displaying high sense of undemocratic attitude.
He stressed, “Cape Verde brags about the independence of its judicial system and boasts of being the
leading bastion of democratic values in Africa, but actions speak louder than words.”
He also argued that the charges, upon which the extradition attempt is based, are unfounded, purely political and artificially built to serve political purposes.
“They are based on testimony provided by discredited witnesses who have been rewarded with US citizenships for their cooperation.
“I’ve been asked why don’t you lie and [betray] President Maduro. Why don’t you give the Americans what they want? You’ll be home in a few days”.
Saab was arrested and detained in Cape Verde based on the request of the Donald Trump led United States government during a stop over on his way to Iran over allegations of money laundering.
The Venezuelan government however faulted the move with claims that the businessman is its special envoy on a humanitarian mission.
The Venezuelan government claimed that before his arrest, Saab had been on a mission to get food and medical supplies in Iran, stopping over in Cape Verde where he was arrested by security operatives.
The failure of Cape Verdean authorities to obey the ruling of the ECOWAS court by extraditing Saab to the US is not the first contempt for court order by the authorities since his detention last year.
Saab was denied access to any member of his defense team despite three court rulings granting him the right to do so.
Whilst the matter of Saab’s extradition is in front of Cape Verde’s Constitutional Court, on 8 June, the United Nations Human Rights Committee based in Geneva ordered that Cape Verde must halt the extradition process whilst it examines the merits of Alex Saab’s claim of denial of specialist health care and cruel and inhuman treatment
